Oxygen regulator



Oct. 28, 1930. J..E. ESHBAUGH 1,779,840

u OXYGEN REGULATOR Filed April 5. 192'! HL NUIC BS-MFZI- INVENTOR (/5555f. EJHB/YUGI/ ATTO Y Patented Oct. :28, 1930 UNITED STATES .m'ssnEVERETT ESHIBAUGH, or FLINT, MICHIGAN OXYGEN REGULATOR Application filedApril 5,

This invention relates to an apparatus for regulating the flow of oxygento a pilot of an aircraft while flying at high altitudes.

Present day developments in aircraft call for considerable flying ataltitudes ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 feet, depending upon the typeofcraft flown. ficulty in breathing normally is experienced at thesealtitudes and becomes more apparent m the higher the aircraft is flown.As a result therefore of such a necessity arising, it is important thatmeans be provided whereby life can be sustained at high altitude flying.

The main object of this invention is the 5 provision of a regulatingapparatus, connected to an oxygen supply source and mounted within thecockpit of an airplane, preferably on the instrument board thereof, soas to be easily accessible to the pilot when occasion arises for the useof the same.

A second object is the provision of an indicating means for givingindications of the amount of oxygen remaining in 'thesource of supply,together with other means, showing the amount of oxygen being used andthe rate of flow thereof.

A further object of the inventionis the adoption of the component partsof the device to be hereinafter described to the vertical dial type ofinstrument.

Other objects will be apparent in the construction and novel combinationand arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2, showing thearrangemen-t of the various parts of the regulator.

Fig. 2 is a front View thereof showing the arrangement of the indicatorand the valve controlling mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a partial section of the drum and parts attached as shown inFig.1.

Referring to the drawing, the regillator comprises generally, a casing 1of a su stantially flat and compact structure, having a flanged portion2 at its front end, as shown in Fig. 1. A plate 3 is mounted on theflanged 50 portion by means of screws 1 and'serves as Considerable dif-1927. Serial No. 181,250.

a mounting plate for the indicators 5 and 6, the function of which willbe described later. .A pressure regulating chamber 7 compr sing a hollowflanged passage 8 is fixedly mounted to the flanged portion 2 of thecasing as shown in Fig. 1. Gaseous oxygen from a supply source (notshown), enters the regulator through the tube 9 screwed into the bottomof the pressure chamber 7. A passage, 10 is connected at its one end tothe tube 9 and to the valve seat 11 and valve 12 at its other end.

-Valve 12 is integral with a spanner 13, provided with a threaded'rod 14and is held in position by a nut 16. A spring 17, under tension, bearsagainst the face of the disc 15 at its one end and against the flange 18of the chamber 7 at its other end to keep the valve 12 normally closed.As a result the oxygen is prevented from further passage through theregulator. A thumb screw 19 is mounted for manual adjustment by thepilot in the front of the regulator and compresses a main spring 17which in turn compresses the valve spring 20, lifts the valve 11 fromthe valve seat 12 and permits oxygen to enter pressure chamber 7. Thischamber has a diaphragm 21, sus ended at its one end which is supportedfor ore and aft movement by the spanner 13.

With oxygen pouring into the chamber 7 the pressure therein increasesuntil the force acting upon the diaphragm 21 is suflieient tocounterbalance the action-of the springs 17 and 20. With the pressure inthe chamber greater than the action of the spring, the valve 12 willclose. Therefore, a certain predetermined pressure is obtainable in thechamber 7 for a given, setting of the thumb screw 19 and the farther thesprings are compressed the greater will be the pressure built up in thechamber. The oxygen escapes from chamber 7 through an orifice 22 asshown in Fig. 3, into an annular space 23 provided in the inner bearingwall 24 of drum 25. Passing through this space the oxygen escapesthrough a passage 26, as shown in Fig. 3, into a flexible steel jacketedtube 27, through tubular mouthpiece 28 and to the pilot.

The drum 25 is mounted for rotational 100v movement upon a stub shaft 29of the .chamher 7 and is grooved, asshown in Fig. '3 'to receive aconsiderable length of the tube 27. When in use a suitable length oftubing is pulled out of the regulator over rollers 30 against the actionof a coiled spring 31, coacting with the drum to keep the same normallyfrom rotating. A pawl 32, substantially located in front of theregulator engages a series of notches 33 located on the periphery of thedrum 25 and prevents the tube from being drawn into the regulator by thespring action from the drum.

When the tube is no longer needed, a button 34 conveniently located uponthe front of the regulator and in engagement with the pawl 32 is pressedinwardly, releases the pawl and permits the tubin to be rewound on thedrum. A flow indicator 5, previously mentioned, and which is essentiallya pressure gauge is mounted on the front panel of the regulator and atone end thereof. This gauge is connected to the pressure chamber by asmall tube 36 and is calibrated in units of altitude and represents thepressure required in chamber 7, in order that the quantity of oxygenescaping to the user is suflicient for 'his needs at the altitudeindicated by the pointer 35 on the gauge 5. A pressure gauge 6 isconnected by suitable means to the inlet passage 9 which is in directcommunication with the supply cylinder and regulates the pressure in thesame at all times.

I claim:

In a device of the class described, comprising a casing having amounting plate, a pressure reducing valve therein, said valve beingprovided with an intake and exhaust opening, a drum mounted forrotatable movement upon said valve, a hose mounted on said drum havingone end in communication with said valve and the other end supported bysaidmounting plate whereby fluid in said valve is delivered at a pointremote therefrom, a pressure gage communicating with said valve, andpressure indicating means communicating with the source of pressure,said pressure gage and said indicating means being disposed one abovethe other within said mounting plate.

In testimony whereof I aifix mysignature.

JESSE E. ESHBAUGH.

